[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9242 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9242
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a pro bono
service requirement for individuals who borrow Federal student loans
for graduate legal education, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 28, 2022
Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a pro bono
service requirement for individuals who borrow Federal student loans
for graduate legal education, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legal Aid for Americans Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. PRO BONO SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR LAW GRADUATES.
Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(r) Pro Bono Service Requirement for Law Graduates.--
``(1) In general.--As condition of receiving a loan under
this part for graduate legal education, a borrower shall enter
into an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to which the
borrower agrees to perform legal work, on a pro bono basis, for
not fewer than 50 hours per year during each year of the
applicable service period.
``(2) Annual certifications.--
``(A) In general.--On an annual basis during each
year of the applicable service period, a borrower
subject to an agreement under paragraph (1) shall
submit to the Secretary a certification indicating
whether or not the borrower has complied with the
requirements of the agreement.
``(B) Exemption for public service employees.--A
borrower who is employed in a public service job (as
defined in subsection (m)) during the applicable
service period, as demonstrated by an annual
certification of such employment submitted to the
Secretary by such borrower, shall be deemed to be in
compliance with the pro bono service requirement under
this subsection and shall not be required to perform
any additional pro bono service pursuant to this
subsection.
``(3) Noncompliance.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act, a borrower subject to an agreement under paragraph
(1) who does not comply with the terms of the agreement for any
year of the applicable service period shall be treated as in
default on any loan to which such agreement applies until the
date on which the borrower certifies that the borrower is in
compliance with the agreement.
``(4) Exceptions.--The requirement to perform pro bono
legal service pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (1)
shall not apply during any period in which the borrower--
``(A) is serving on active duty during a war or
other military operation or national emergency;
``(B) is performing qualifying National Guard duty
during a war or other military operation or national
emergency; or
``(C) is attending an institution of higher
education on not less than a half-time basis.
``(5) Applicability.--The requirement under paragraph (1)
shall apply to loans made under this part for graduate legal
education after the date of enactment of the Legal Aid for
Americans Act of 2022.
``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Applicable service period.--The term
`applicable service period' means--
``(i) with respect to a borrower who is
licensed to practice law in a State before
receiving a loan under this part for graduate
legal education, the first three years
following the date on which the borrower
completes the program of study for which the
loan was obtained; and
``(ii) with respect to a borrower who is
not licensed to practice law in a State before
receiving a loan under this part for graduate
legal education, the first three years
following the date on which the borrower
obtains a license to practice law in a State.
``(B) Graduate legal education.--The term `graduate
legal education' means any program of study leading to
a graduate degree or graduate certificate in a legal
field (as determined by the Secretary), including any
program of study leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree,
Master of Laws (LLM) degree, or Doctor of Juridical
Science (SJD) degree.''.
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